In one Age, called the Fourth Age by some, an Age yet to come, an Age long past, a wind rose in the Land of the Crystal Throne. It sped across the great Aryth Ocean to the Tai’Seanchan coast. It continued over the Mountains of Mist, picking up the scent of Two Rivers fine tabac and singing along to a tune made by a Tinker’s tea kettle. It swirled around the vast prairie known as the Caralain Grass, with it’s Black Tower fortress, and the island city of Tar Valon, home of the fabled Ogier-made White Tower...The wind swept through the valleys, skimming along the lake that once was Shadar Logoth, lifting the raven in flight. It howled through the Blight past the snorts and bellows of Trollocs, carrying on it the stench of their cookpots and rot as it whipped by a Myrddraal without creating so much as a ripple in its dark cloak. If you listen closely to the wind you can hear the sound of “friends” whispering in the dark as it whistles by you. The shadows beckon you to their warm embrace; where will the wind take you? For you must know, the wind was not the beginning. There are neither beginnings nor endings to the turning of the Wheel of Time. But it was A beginning.
During the test, three Aes Sedai sit around the ter’angreal where the arches touch the ring that they sit on. Another stands nearby, beside a table holding three silver chalices filled with water.
Upon entering the room, the novice and Mistress of Novices are addressed by the Aes Sedai who is next to the table with the chalices.
Aes Sedai: Whom do you bring with you, Sister?
Mistress of Novices: One who comes as a candidate for Acceptance, Sister.
Aes Sedai: Is she ready?
Mistress of Novices: She is ready to leave behind what she was, and, passing through her fears, gain Acceptance.
Aes Sedai: Does she know her fears?
Mistress of Novices: She has never faced them, but now is willing.
Aes Sedai: Then let her face what she fears.
The novice is then required to undress. Before she enters the first arch, the Mistress of Novices tells her: “The first time is for what was. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast.”
What Was
In the first arch, the novice must face a fear from her past.
After a time, an arch will appear, glowing with a silver radiance. The candidate must step back through the arch to return to the chamber. When she has returned to the chamber, the sister standing beside the table pours one of the chalices of water over the novice and tells her: “You are washed clean of what sin you may have done and of those done against you. You are washed clean of what crime you may have committed, and of those committed against you. You come to us washed clean and pure, in heart and soul.”
She then enters the second arch after the Mistress of Novices has spoken again, saying: “The second time is for what is. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast.”
What Is
In the second arch, the novice must face her worst fear of what is happening in the present. The second arch is always worse than the first.
After a time, the arch will appear, glowing with a silver radiance. She must step back through the arch to return to the chamber. When the novice has returned to the chamber, the sister standing beside the table pours the second chalice of water over her and says: “You are washed clean of false pride. You are washed clean of false ambition. You come to us washed clean, in heart and soul.”
The novice enters the third arch after the Mistress of Novices has told her: “The third time is for what will be. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast.”
What Will Be
In the third arch, the novice must face her fears about the future. The third arch is always the worst of them all.
After a time, as with the other two parts of the test, an arch will appear, glowing with silver radiance. The novice must step back through the arch and return to the chamber.
The Ring
Once the novice has passed the Accepted Test, the Amyrlin Seat and one sister from each Ajah, formally garbed in her shawl and arranged to either side of the Amyrlin, now occupy the room as well. The novice kneels before the Amyrlin Seat, who pours the third chalice of water over her. The Amyrlin tells her: “You are washed clean of [name of candidate] from [place of origin]. You are washed clean of all ties that bind you to the world. You come to us washed clean, in heart and soul. You are [name of candidate], Accepted of the White Tower. You are sealed to us now.”
Once this is done, the Amyrlin presents the new Accepted with a Great Serpent ring. She pulls the Accepted to her feet, says, “Welcome, Daughter,” and kisses her on the cheek. When the Accepted dresses again, it is in an Accepted’s banded dress.
Upon entering the room, the novice and Mistress of Novices are addressed by the Aes Sedai who is next to the table with the chalices.
Aes Sedai: Whom do you bring with you, Sister?
Mistress of Novices: One who comes as a candidate for Acceptance, Sister.
Aes Sedai: Is she ready?
Mistress of Novices: She is ready to leave behind what she was, and, passing through her fears, gain Acceptance.
Aes Sedai: Does she know her fears?
Mistress of Novices: She has never faced them, but now is willing.
Aes Sedai: Then let her face what she fears.
The novice is then required to undress. Before she enters the first arch, the Mistress of Novices tells her: “The first time is for what was. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast.”
In the first arch, the novice must face a fear from her past.
After a time, an arch will appear, glowing with a silver radiance. The candidate must step back through the arch to return to the chamber. When she has returned to the chamber, the sister standing beside the table pours one of the chalices of water over the novice and tells her: “You are washed clean of what sin you may have done and of those done against you. You are washed clean of what crime you may have committed, and of those committed against you. You come to us washed clean and pure, in heart and soul.”
She then enters the second arch after the Mistress of Novices has spoken again, saying: “The second time is for what is. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast.”
In the second arch, the novice must face her worst fear of what is happening in the present. The second arch is always worse than the first.
After a time, the arch will appear, glowing with a silver radiance. She must step back through the arch to return to the chamber. When the novice has returned to the chamber, the sister standing beside the table pours the second chalice of water over her and says: “You are washed clean of false pride. You are washed clean of false ambition. You come to us washed clean, in heart and soul.”
The novice enters the third arch after the Mistress of Novices has told her: “The third time is for what will be. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast.”
In the third arch, the novice must face her fears about the future. The third arch is always the worst of them all.
After a time, as with the other two parts of the test, an arch will appear, glowing with silver radiance. The novice must step back through the arch and return to the chamber.
Once the novice has passed the Accepted Test, the Amyrlin Seat and one sister from each Ajah, formally garbed in her shawl and arranged to either side of the Amyrlin, now occupy the room as well. The novice kneels before the Amyrlin Seat, who pours the third chalice of water over her. The Amyrlin tells her: “You are washed clean of [name of candidate] from [place of origin]. You are washed clean of all ties that bind you to the world. You come to us washed clean, in heart and soul. You are [name of candidate], Accepted of the White Tower. You are sealed to us now.”
Once this is done, the Amyrlin presents the new Accepted with a Great Serpent ring. She pulls the Accepted to her feet, says, “Welcome, Daughter,” and kisses her on the cheek. When the Accepted dresses again, it is in an Accepted’s banded dress.
